Future bright for Emily, 27, after surgery

Emily Ranoble began last year with an anxious wait for life-changing surgery – 12 months on, she is looking forward to a future without fear.

Growing up surrounded by tragic breast cancer-related deaths, the 27 year old, from Birstall, decided to take her future into her own hands after a decade of deliberation.

All but two women on the maternal side of her family succumbed to the illness, including Cambridgeshire-born Emily’s mother Shelley who passed away before her daughter’s 10th birthday.

Faced with running the risk of dying an early death from cancer or taking the drastic step of having both breasts surgically removed, she went under the knife at Pinderfields Hospital on April 27 last year.

Emily is now far along the road to recovery, having had surgery and a full reconstruction.

She is set to have one last minor operation early this year.

“In the bigger picture it feels brilliant to know that my breasts are now safe – I’m not worrying about the operation or cancer,” she said.

Emily tested negative for the BRCA gene mutation that gives women a higher chance of developing breast cancer in 2013 but doctors labelled her as high risk due to her family history.

Around 50,000 UK women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

Emily is now focusing on living life with her wife Becky, and spreading awareness and fundraising for cancer charities.

She is in training to run the 2016 London Marathon for Cancer Research UK.

“You’ve got to share your experiences on these things to encourage others,” she said.